ANIMAL welfare authorities have removed 153
cockfighting birds from a Lovely Banks property after statewide raids.
The RSPCA and police broke up a large
cockfighting ring and seized more than 400 roosters in Melbourne's outer west
in September.
Officers said it was one of the biggest rings
discovered in Victoria.
John Ung, of Anakie Rd, Lovely Banks, faced
Sunshine Magistrates' Court on November 9, charged with being found in a common
gaming place and attending a fighting event.
He was ordered to surrender his 153 roosters and
banned from owning poultry for 10 years.
RSPCA inspector Hugh Robinson said officers went
to the Anakie Rd property last week to remove the roosters, which they believed
had been used in cockfighting. He said the birds were destroyed.
"These animals are bred for cockfighting
and groomed and housed in a manner that depicts this," he said.
"They're very aggressive and will attack.
"Unfortunately they cannot be
rehomed."
The RSPCA said it was an offence under state and
federal animal cruelty laws to allow gamecocks to fight, to possess
cockfighting implements, or own a bird for the purposes of fighting.
It's also an animal cruelty offence to attend a
cockfight.
Melbourne police swooped on a Rockbank property
on September 9 and charged more than 80 people after investigations into the
illegal gaming.
Mr Robinson said two offenders from the Geelong
area had also faced court in the past month on separate matters unrelated to
cockfighting.
Reggae Rodaughan, of Chaffey Square, Corio, was
charged with aggravated cruelty and fined $500 on November 2.
The offence related to a mastiff that developed
osteomyelitis in a front leg after being attacked by another dog.
On the same day, Daniel Hose, of Forrest Rd,
Lara, faced the Geelong Magistrates' Court, charged with failing to provide vet
treatment.
He was fined $500.
The offence related to a goat found on his
property that was missing half a front leg.
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